Explanation of the flag

The flag of Kenya was adopted on 12 December 1963. It is based on the black over
red over green flag of KANU (Kenya African
National Union), the party that led the fight for freedom and independence. The colours symbolize black
majority, blood and natural wealth. On independence the white fimbriation
was added, symbolizing peace. The defence of freedom is symbolized by a
traditional Masai shield and two spears.
Željko Heimer, 24 Feb 1996

The national flag is a black-red-green tricolor with white fimbriations
and overall a Masai shield and two white spears. The shield is red with
black flanks and a white disk in the middle and four white charges. The
Album 2000 is the first place where I see the construction details for
this flag, and it defines the ratio of three stripes as 6+1+6+1+6. I guess
that there may have existed also detailed construction sheet of the central
emblem too.
Source: Album 2000.Željko Heimer, 30 Mar 2002

Kenyan Flag Specifications
All Materials to conform to the appropriate B.S.S (British Standard
Specifications).
All dimensions given do not necessarily represent any particular measurements
and are merely proportional.
Red to be 'Post Office Red', B.S shade reference 0-006
Green to be B.S shade reference 0-010.
Source: this
website.
Dov Gutterman, 27 May 2002

On 27 August 2010 the president of Kenya ratified the new constitution of
the Republic of Kenya. The constitution was agreed by a referendum held
earlier in August. The new constitution includes a specification sheet of the
Kenyan flag, which was adopted at the time of independence. This is the
first flag specification sheet which, to the best of my knowledge, has received
constitutional status.

I have not yet found a copy of the newly ratified Kenyan Constitution.
However, there are some examples of the Draft Constitution which was issued on
06 May 2010. Article 9 and the Second Schedule deal with the national
symbols of Kenya. This draft is the one that was ratified as the new Kenyan
Constitution.

For a draft of the Constitution see this
website.Jos Poels, 27 August 2010

The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics
(Flags and Anthems Manual, London, 2012 [loc12])
provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each National Olympic
Committee was sent an image of their flag, including the PMS shades, by the
London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for their approval.
Once this was obtained, the LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for
further approval. So, while these specifications may not be the official,
government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the National Olympic
Committee believed their flag to be.

A Ministerial Regulation dated 1965 restricts the
categories of officials who can fly the national flag on their vehicles to the
President, the Vice-President, the Chief Justice, the
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ministers and the Attorney-General.
Attorney-General Githu Muigai recently recalled that Governors cannot fly the
national flag on their cars. Many governors, after they were sworn in last week,
have been flying the national flag on their vehicles. Governors William Kabogo (Kiambo
County) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) have told they would continue flying
the flag. Kabongo said the Transition Authority issued the flags they are
flying to them immediately they were sworn in and therefore they were flying
them legally.Ivan Sache, 09 April 2013

In this article
suggested that the governors fly their own regional flags rather than the Kenyan
national flag.Andy S, 11 April 2013

Flag construction sheet

image
by Željko Heimer, 30 Mar 2002

Click here for the flag construction
sheet. It is based on the link
provided by Dov Gutterman.
Željko Heimer, 28 May 2002

Kenyan coat of arms

image
by Željko Heimer, 30 Mar 2002

The coat of arms greatly based on the black-white one provided in Corel
Clipart collection:
Željko Heimer, 30 Mar 2002

The arms were granted on October 15, 1963.
The shape of the shield and spears are those used by the Masai tribe.
Harambee is the motto of the chief political party KANU
(Kenya African National Union) and means "all pull together". It was
used by the first President Jomo Kenyatta to try to turn 50-60 disparate
tribes into one nation at independence. The chicken is the symbol of the
KANU. The shield colors represent the struggle for independence - green
is the earth, red is the blood of the Mau Mau warriors for independence
and black the rich soils. The lions are obviously a key animal in Kenya's
wildlife parks.
Info from Ralf Hartemink's
website. See also: this
website.Jarig Bakker, 25 Feb 1999